1 Kings 12:26-32; 13:33-34 / Mark 8:1-10
Back in 1858, on this very day, the apparitions of Our Lady to St. Bernadette Soubirous began, followed by other apparitions during the year.
That was also the time when the Church and the world were going through a turbulent and distressing time.
It was in this rather dark period that Our Lady appeared to St Bernadette, then a 14-year-old peasant girl, with the message and the call to prayer and penance, with the prayer of the Rosary and fasting being recommended.
As time went by, the message of Our Lady of Lourdes found particular expression in the care of the sick and disabled, and also the numerous miraculous cures that happened there.
Indeed today's gospel account of how Jesus cared for the hungry people and the miraculous multiplication of loaves was recounted in the Lourdes event and to be continued in the present times.
As we offer today's Eucharist in honour of Our Lady of Lourdes, let us also heed the call to prayer and penance especially in the face of evil in the world.
Let us also have faith in the Lord and in the intercession of our Lady that He would work signs and wonders through the Church so that the Church can be seen as a sign of salvation.
God still loves and cares for His people. We saw it in the gospel, we saw it in Lourdes, let us pray and do penance and we will see it in our day.